Laundry pre-drying, shakeout and conditioning tumbler



Oct. 30, 1956 PURKETT 2,768,451

LAUNDRY FREE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER- Filed March 12,1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J FIG. I.

INVENTOR U'RKET Maw ATTORNEYS 30, 1956 F. PURKETT 68,451

LAUNDRY'PREDRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed March 12,1954 -4 Shets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6.

/ FIG. 9.

INVENTOR 3 f/ FRED L. PURKETT i7 L/ BY @MW ATTORNEYS Oct. 30; 1956 F. L.PURKETT 2,768,451

LAUNDRY PRE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Filed March 12,1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. I2.

INVENTOR FRED L. PURKETT BY /%m/w ATTORNEYS United States Patent2,768,451 LAUNDRY PRE-DRYING, SHAKEOUT AND CONDITIONING TUMBLER Fred L.Purkett, Joplin, Mo., assignor to Pnrkett Manufacturing Company, Joplin,Mo., a partnership Application March 12, 19s4, Serial No. 415,803

8 Claims. or. 34-87) This invention relates to laundry tumblingapparatus for conditioning laundered articles for subsequent processng.

An important object of. the invention is to improve the construction andoperation, as well as the efiiciency and economy, of apparatus of theindicated type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of theindicated type which will condition laundered articles more quickly andeffectively than prior apparatus utilized for this purpose, therebyspeeding up the conditioning operation, as well as the subsequentironing operation, all with no increase in personnel or labor costs,thus increasing economy and speed of processing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of theindicated type including a novel arrangement of air heating andcirculating means for pie-drying laundered articles simultaneously andin conjunction with the tumbling and conditioning thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means formaintaining a circulation of heated air through the tumblers and whereinthe circulating means may be readily disconnected from a part of thetumbler to permit the latter to swing between its loading anddischarging positions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus ofthe indicated type including a novel arrangement of means supporting thetumbler for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, as well asrotatable movement about an axis disposed substantially at right anglesto the horizontal axis.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means forrotating the tumbler which, at the same time, acts as a support for thetumbler while it is in load receiving position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of.

apparatus of the indicated type having a pair of doors movable to coverand uncover the open mouth of the tumbler and including novel means foreffecting simultaneous movement of the doors and for automaticallymaintaining them in open positions when the tumbler is moved away fromits loading position toward its dis-' charging position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of theindicated type having heating coils and.

right in Figure 1, parts being removed to show the interiorconstruction;

Patented Oct. 30, 1956 Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal crossseetional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on the line 44 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

I Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the apparatus taken along the line 66of Figure 5, parts being broken away to show the interior construction;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe apparatus taken on the line 77 of Figure 6; V FigureS is an enlargedview similar to Figure 7 of a portion of the structure shown in Figure7; I

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional vie of 'a'portion ofthe apparatus taken on the line 99 of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a portion ofthe apparatus taken along the line-10-'10 of Figure 5;

' Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical crossesectional view of a portion ofthe apparatus taken on the line 1111 of Figure 5; and.

Figure 12 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a portion of theblower assembly partly in cross-section to show the interiorconstruction.

In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises a. rotatabletumbler or tumbling drum mounted for swingingmovement about a horizontalaxis between a load receivingland a load discharging position. Novelmeans are provided for rotating the tumbler, such means, in addition,serving as an auxiliary support for one end of the tumbler when the sameis in load receiving position. Novel means are also provided. forsupplying heated air to the tumbler and for exhausting it therefromduring the tumbling operation, the latter arrangement including a pairof perforated doors and a novel mechanism for controlling same.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates themain supporting base frame of the apparatus consisting of end framemembers 11 and 12 and transverse frame members 13 and 14, connected tothe end frame members in any suitable manner, as by welding. Suitablebraces such as 15 and 16 may be provided where desired to strengthen andrigidify the frame.

The end frame members may desirably be formed At the top thereof, eachof the end frame members is provided with a bearing 23 (Figures 3 and11) for receiving a hollow trunnion or stub shaft 24. The bearings 23may be of any suitable type and are desirably secured to the top of thehorizontal structural members 19. As will be apparent, the bearings 23and trunnions 24, at opposite ends of the frame, 'are axially aligned. i

The trunnions 24 rotatably support a cradle or frame 25 which carries arotatable tumbling drum 26 hereinafter described. The cradle or frame 25is herein illustrated as formed of end flanges or plate members 27 and28 connected together by a yoke shaped frame member 29 and by anadditional frame member 30. The end flanges or plate members 27 and 28are preferably circular in shape and each provided with a centrallydisposed opening 32 (Figure 11) through which the trunnions 24extend.The

plate member 27 is further provided with an outwardly openingsubstantially U-shaped groove or track 33 around.

its periphery for receiving a chain belt or the like 34 for. a purposeto be described,

The yoke shaped frame 29 is made up of end frame members and 36 and sideframe members 37 and 38. The end frame members 35 and 36 are welded orotherwise secured to angle irons 39 and 40 which latter, in turn, aresecured to the end flanges 27 and 28. As will be apparent from Figure 2,the end frame members 35and 36 extend across the inner faces of theplate members 27 and 28 with their central portions adjacent but to oneside of the opening 32.

Extending downwardly from each of the end frame members 35 and 36adjacent the central portions thereof is a pair of plate members 41 and42 (Figure 11) to which is secured one part of a two part clamp 43.These clamps are designed to be clamped around the inwardly projectingportions of the trunnions 24 and, if desired, a layer of b'abbitt metal43a may be interposed between the clamps and the trunnions to assist incentering the latter.

The means for turning the cradle comprise the chain belt 34, hereinabovereferred to, which is trained over the end flange 27 of the cradle andover a pulley or sprocket 44, carried by the end frame member 11, anddrivingly connected with an electric motor 45, by any suitable type ofgear reduction device. The electric motor 45 is also carried by the endframe member 11 and suitable controls (not shown) including limitswitches, etc, are provided for manually and/or automatically initiatingand stopping operation thereof.

The tumbling drum 26, previously referred to herein, is rotatablycarried by a bearing structure indicated a whole by the numeral 48(Figure 9). The bearing structure 48, in turn, is carried by the sideframe member 38 of the yoke-shaped frame 29, suitable braces between themember 38 and the end plates 27 and 28 being provided where needed tostrengthen and rigidify the structure.

In a preferred arrangement, the bearing structure 48 comprises acylindrical sleeve or shell 50 in which is arranged a suitable rollerbearing structure 51 rotatably supporting a stub shaft 52. The shell orsleeve 50 is secured to the side frame member 38 by a collar 53 (Figure7) welded to the respective members. At its inner end, the stub shaft 52has a flange 54 secured thereto which, in turn, is bolted or otherwisesecured to a hub member 55.

The tumbling drum 26 is provided with a cylindrical preferably perforatebody or wall 56, the rear edge of which is secured to a ring 57. Thering 57 is supported by radially disposed spokes 58 carried by the hubmember 55. The hub 55, ring 57 and spokes 58 form a sturdy wheel typestructure for supporting the tumbling drum.

At its forward end, the tumbling drum 26 is formed with a frusto-conicalshaped wall 59 provided with a relatively large end opening 60 throughwhich the tumbler may be loaded and unloaded in a manner to bedescribed. On the interior thereof, the tumbler '26 is preferablyprovided with ribs 61 to assist in lifting and dropping articles toprovide the desired tumbling action, as well as exposure to heated air,as hereinafter described.

Rotation of the tumbling drum is effected by -a novel pulley and beltarrangement consisting of four belts 63, an idler pulley 64, and adriving pulley 65 driven by an electric motor 66 carried by the endflange member 27 of the cradle. The driving pulley 65 is rotatablymounted directly on a frame 67 (Figures 5 and 10) :secured to the flangemembers 27 and 28, while the idler pulley 64 is rotatably mounted on anauxiliary frame 68 slidably mounted on the main frame 67. The auxiliaryframe 68 is connected to the main frame 67 by an adjustable connection69 which permits adjustment of the auxiliary frame to maintain thedesired tension in the belts.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, the belts "63, are

trained around the idler and driving pulleys and around 'the peripheryof the cylindrical body portion of the tumbling drum 26 adjacent theforward end thereof. An important feature of the invention is thelocating of the idler and driving pulleys in such fashion that theyoccupy positions above the tumbling drum when it is in load receivingposition. This is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5. As a result of thisarrangement, the belts 63 and associated mechanism serve as an auxiliarysupport for the tumbler to absorb and offset shocks produced by dumpinga heavy load of densely compacted laundered articles thereinto duringthe loading operation.

Adjacent the rear thereof, the tumbler 26 is provided with a perforatedback plate 70 (Figure 7) Which is preferably secured to the forwardedges of the spokes 58 to strengthen and stiffen same. The plate 70defines the rear end of the tumbling compartment of the tumbling drumand is provided with a removable section 71 (Figure 2) to facilitatecleaning and the removal of lint.

A back closure plate 72 for the tumbling drum (Figures 6 and 7) isarranged rearwardly of and spaced from the plate 70 and spokes 58, andis held in position on the shell 50 in any suitable manner as bybrackets, tie rods and the like securing it to the transverse framemembers and/ or braces of the cradle. The periphery of the plate 72 isprovided with an annular sealing member 73 which cooperates with asealing member '74 carried by the ring 57 to form a reasonablyleak-proof joint. The closure plate 72 cooperates with a perforatedplate hereinafter described to provide an air chamber therebetween andis provided with an upper removable cleanout door 75 to permit access tosuch chamber.

As shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7, a heating element 76 ismounted in the space between the spokes 58 and closure plate 72, suchheating element preferably consisting of a plurality of concentricallyarranged heating coils 77 each connected at its ends to an inlet header78 and an outlet header 79. The coils 77 may desirably be provided withfins 80 to increase the heat transfer and radiation therefrom. Theheating coils 77 are held in position by radially disposed strips 80a,carried by a hub 8%, the hub 80b, in turn, being clamped to the sleeve50.

.Rearwardly of the coils 7'7 and between these coils and the rearclosure plate 72 is disposed a plate 81 which together with the closureplate 72 forms the air chamber hereinabove referred to. The plate 81 isprovided with concentric series of openings 82 each series preferablybeing disposed adjacent and opposite the associated coil 77. The plate81 is mounted'on the shell 50 in any suitable manner and desirably hasits periphery secured to a member 82a secured to the closure plate 72.

Air is supplied to the space between the closure plate 72 and theperforated plate 81 by a blower 83 (Figures 1,2 and 12) driven byan'electric motor 84, the blower and motor both being mounted on the endframe member 12 in any suitable manner. in a preferred arrangement, theoutlet manifold 85 of the blower is disposed substantially parallel .tothe closure plate 72 and the inlet manifold 86 of the closure plate '72is disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the closure plate so thatair is introduced to the space between the plate 31 and the closureplate 72 in a tangential direction. In order to provide a sealed jointbetween the manifolds 85 and 86, the ends thereof are .cut off at abias, and flanged, as shown at 87 and 88, so as to produce a wedging andtightening action as they move together. A rubber gasket or the like maydesirably 'be provided to increase the sealing action such gasket beingpermanently secured to the flanged end of either manifold.

To assist in controlling and directing the movement of air into thetumbling chamber inner and outer series of baffles 90 and 91 are mountedon the rear edges of the spokes 58. These baflles provide asubstantially annular opening 92 therebetween through which heated airis directed into the tumbling chamber. By shortening or lengthening theradial dimensions of these baffles the size of the opening 92 may bevaried as desired.

In its normal operating position, the open mouth of the tumbling drum isadapted to be closed by a pair of semi-circularly shaped doors 93 and 94which, in closed positions, rest against a ring shaped member 95supported in position adjacent the mouth of the tumbler by arms 96depending from the side frame member 37 of the yoke-shaped frame 29.These doors are perforated, as shown, for the discharge of airtherethrough from the tumbling chamber.

The doors 93 and 94 are supported by novel means which affectsimultaneous movement thereof between closed and opened positions andwhich are automatically operable to retain the doors in open positionswhen the tumbler is swung away from its loading and normal operativeposition toward its discharge position. Such means comprise verticallydisposed shafts 97 and 98 turnably mounted in upper and lower bearingmembers 99 and 99a supported by the end frame members 11 and 12. Attheir upper ends the shafts 97 and 98 have horizontally extendingportions 100 and 101 connected at their outer ends to verticallyextending portions 102 and 103, the latter, in turn, carryinghorizontally extending arms 104 and 105 connected to the doors 93 and94. As will be apparent from the described arrangement the doors 93 and94 will swing between closed and opened positions as the shafts 97 and98 turn in the bearings 99 and 99a.

Secured to and extending outwardly from the shafts 97 and 98, preferablyadjacent the lower ends thereof, are arms or brackets 107 (Figure 4)suitably joined together for simultaneous swinging movement by aconnecting rod 108. The arms or brackets 107 extend outwardly inopposite directions from their respective shafts 97 and 98 so as toprovide the desired simultaneous opening and closing movement of theindividual doors as aforesaid. Springs 109 are connected between eachbracket 107 and the end frame members 11 and 12 for the purpose ofurging the doors to opened or closed positions, as the case may be, whenthe arms or brackets pass dead center.

Means are provided for retaining the doors in opened positions when thetumbler is moved away from its normal operating position, as aforesaid,such means comprising a lever 111 (Figure 3) pivotally connected to endframe member 12, as at 112, the lower end of the lever being connectedto an arm 113, mounted on the shaft 97, by a link 114. At its upper end,the lever 111 carries a roller 115 adapted to bear against, andcooperate with, a cam 116 mounted on the end flange 28 of the cradle orframe 25. As best shown in Figure 3, the cam 116 has an inwardly curvedportion 117 against which the roller 115 rests when the tumbler is inits normal operative position, and a substantially arcuately curvedportion 118 adapted to engage the roller 115 when the tumbler is movedaway from its loading position, to maintain the doors in openedpositions. The doors 93 and 94 are preferably manually moved betweenopen and closed positions although it will be appreciated that automaticmeans may be provided for the purpose.

In order to meet varying installations and conditions of operation, itwill usually be desirable to provide some means for controlling the airsupplied to the tumbler by the blower. In accordance with the invention,this may desirably be accomplished by the provision of a butterfly typeof valve consisting of a valve plate 119 (Figure 12) having stub shafts120 and 121 secured to the upper and lower edges thereof and turnablymounted in bearings 122 and 123 positioned in the manifold of the blowerhousing. The stub shaft 120 projects upwardly from the manifold and isprovided with a handle 124 having an opening 125 therein adapted to beselectively engaged with any one of a series of arcuately disposed pins126, projecting upwardly from the top of the manifold. The valve plateor damper l by a rotatable joint '128, such as Barco joint.

119 may be moved to different operative positions by lifting upwardly onthe handle 124 to disengage a pin 126 from the opening 125 in thehandle, then turning the handle to move the valve plate or damper to thedesired position, following which the handle is lowered to engage aselected pin in the opening in the handle. The valve plate or damper 119is preferably less in width than the width of the manifold so that thesupply of air will not be entirely out off when it is moved to whatwould normally correspond to closed position.

Since the heating coils 77, hereinabove described, are mounted forswinging movement with the tumbler, this must be taken intoconsideration in connection with the supplying of steam or other heatingfluid thereto. While this may, and has been done, in many instances, bythe provision of a flexible type of tubing or hose, it is preferred toutilize an arrangement of the type shown more clearly in Figures 6, 7and 11. As therein shown, a steam supply pipe 127 of any suitable typeis connected to the inlet header 78, passes rearwardly through theclosure plate, then laterally across the back of the plate, thenforwardly between the tumbler and end plate 28 of the cradle to thehollow trunnion 24. It then passes through the hollow trunnion 24(Figure 11) and at its outer end is connected with a source of steam orother heating fluid A steam exhaust pipe 129 is similarly connected tothe outlet header 79 and passes through the other trunnion 24 where, asbefore, it is connected to a steam exhaust pipe by a rotatable joint128. In order to avoid eccentric motion when the cradle is turned, theportions of the steam supply and exhaust pipes which pass through thetrunnions may be suitably centered therein by adjustable set screws 131.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

In normal load receiving condition, the tumbling drum occupies theposition shown in Figure 1 with the inlet manifold 86 of the back coverplate 72 in sealing engagement with the outlet manifold of the blower83. The tumbling drum may be rotating or stationary and the doors 93 and94 will be in the open positions shown in broken lines in Figure 5. Aload of laundered articles from which the water has been partiallyextracted in the usual manner will then be introduced into the tumblerthrough the open mouth thereof, in any suitable manner as by a tiltablecart or the like (not shown). The doors 93 and 94 are then closed andsuitable electrical controls (not shown) are actuated to initiaterotation of the tumbling drum if it is not already rotating. At the sametime, the blower 83 is started to supply air to the apparatus.

Air from the blower, controlled as desired by the damper 119, passestangentially into the chamber 75 between the back closure plate 72 andthe adjacent perforated plate 81, and then passes through theperforations in the plate 31 which, as previously indicated herein, arepositioned to discharge the air directly onto the coils 77. The air,heated to the desired temperature by the heating coils 77, passesthrough the opening between the inner and outer baifies and 91 andthence through the perforated rear plate 70 of the tumbler into thetumbling chamber proper. Here the articles being tumbled are thoroughlyexposed to the heated air following which the air passes outwardlythrough the perforations in the doors and in the tumbling drum fordischarge to the atmosphere.

When the articles have been exposed to the conditioning operation forthe desired length of time, usually for a few minutes only, the bloweris shut down, the doors 93 and 94 moved to open positions and thecontrols for the motor 45 actuated to initiate swinging movement of thecradle and tumbler to its discharge position. This movement, aspreviously explained herein, is brought about by a chain or belt 34,trained around the end flange member 27 of the cradle and around apulley 44 driven by the motor 45. Means (not shown) may desirably beprovided for automatically stopping themotor 45 when the tumbler reachesits discharge position. Alternatively, this may be accomplished bymanually actuating the switch which controls the motor.

When the tumbler reaches its discharge position the now conditioned andpartially dried laundered articles are discharged through the open endthereof into a cart or other receptacle suitably positioned for thispurpose. To assist in controlling and directing the discharge oflaundered articles from the tumbler a guide or guard 13?: may beprovided, such guide or guard preferably being secured at its lower endto a fixed portion of the main supporting base frame such as theauxiliary structural member 134. As will be apparent, the guide or guard133 is fixed in position and hence does not move with the tumbler as itis swung between loading and unloading positions.

As soon as the tumbling drum moves away from its normal operativeposition the doors 93 and 94 are maintained in their open positions byvirtue of the engagement of the roller 11.5 with the arcuately curvedportion 118 of the cam 116. This prevents the door being accidentallyclosed While the tumbler is away from its normal operative positionthereby eliminating the possibility of damage to the doors when thetumbler is returned to such position.

After the conditioned articles are discharged from the tumbler the motor45 is operated in the reverse direction to thereby return the tumbler toits loading and normal operative position. The apparatus is then readyfor receiving another load of laundered articles following Which thedescribed cycle of operations is repeated.

The various electrical controls for the apparatus, some of which aredesignated generally herein by the numerals 135, 136, 137 and 138, maydesirably be mounted on a panel forming a part of the end frame member11 of the main supporting frame 10. While these controls form no part ofthe present invention and hence are not specifically illustrated herein,their general nature and functions Will be briefly described to furtherclarify the operation of the apparatus.

The motor 66 for rotating the tumbling drum may desirably be controlledby a timing mechanism adapted to be set to cause the drum to rotatecontinuously in one direction for a predetermined period of time. At theend of this time the motor and drum stop and a signal light flashe on tosignal the end of the tumbling operation. In an alternative arrangement,the timing mechanism may be combined with a reversing control wherebythe motor 66 is periodically reversed to cause the drum to rotate firstin one direction, and then in the other, during the tumbling operation.In such alternative arrangement means are preferably provided foroptionally cutting out the reversing control if continuous rotation ofthe tumbling drum in one direction is desired.

The motor of the blower 83 may be controlled by the same timingmechanism used for the motor 86 or by conventional start and stopcontrols, as desired. The circuit for thi motor preferably includes anysuitable type of switch operable to open the circuit so as to preventoperation of the blower when the outlet manifold 85 thereof .is not insealing engagement with the inlet manifold 86 of the back closure plate72 or, in other words, when the tumbling drum is away from its normaloperative position as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Such a switch could be amicro-switch or plunger type switch associated with the flanged ends ofthe inlet and outlet manifolds of the closure plate and blower andoperable to close the circuit when the manifolds are in sealedengagement and to open the circuit when such sealed engagement isbroken.

The motor 45 for rotating the cradle to swing the tumbling drum betweenloading and unloading positions is a reversible type motor which maydesirably be operated by push button controls adapted to initiateoperation of the motor in a desired direction. The circuits for thismotor preferably include limit switches actuatable by elements carriedby the cradle and operable to stop the motor when the tumbling drumreaches its loading or unloading position, as the case may be. As willbe appreciated, when one of these switches is actuated to open thecircuit and stop rotation of the motor in one direction, such circuitremains open as long as the tumbting drum remains in the loading orunloading position, as the case may be, in which it ha been stopped.Hence, it is impossible to accidentally operate the motor in the wrongdirection when the cradle is in either of its extreme positions ofmovement.

An important feature of the invention resides in arranging the drivingmeans for the tumbling drum in such fashion that they render support tothe tumbler when the same is in its normal load receiving position. Thisis accomplished by training the driving belts over spaced idler anddriving pulleys supported by a frame positioned above the tumbling drumwhen the same is in load receiving position, and passing the lower endthereof around the lower portion of the tumbling drum. Means are alsoprovided for adjusting the tension in the belts to maintain propersupport of, and driving conditions for, the tumbler. By virtue of thisarrangement, the apparatus is better able to withstand the shock ofheavy compacted loads dumped into the tumbling drum without placing anyundue strain on the bearing structure which normally supports the same.

Another important feature of the invention reside in the novelarrangement provided for supplying, distributing, and exhausting heatedair from the tumbler as well as the means for controlling the amount ofair supply. By virtue of these arrangements, the degree of drying of thelaundered articles can be closely controlled so as to properly conditionthem for the subsequent ironing operation. In actual operation, thearticles are properly conditioned in a matter of a few minutes andsuificient moisture simultaneously removed to permit a much faster rateof ironing than has hitherto been possible.

Another feature of the invention resides in the improved arrangement ofmeans for conducting the heating fluid to and from the heating coils.Such means may be permanently fastened in position on the apparatus formovement therewith and are superior in every way to the flexible hosesfrequently employed for this purpose.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides improvedapparatus for predrying and conditioning laundered articles from which aportion .of the water has been extracted in any suitable manner. Theapparatus is highly eifective in operation, simple to install andoperate, and requires a minimum of maintenance. In actual use, theapparatus of the invention has made it possible to greatly increase thenumber of articles processed through a laundry in a given period oftime, and without the use of additional personnel, thereby loweringoperating costs per unit processed with resultant increase in profitsand/or lower prices to customers.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, theinvention is not to be construed as limited to the specific detailsillustrated and described except as included in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a rotatabletumbling drum mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axisbetween loading and discharging positions, said tumbling drum beingformed with a cylindrical body having a frustoconical wall at one endthereofterminating in a centrally disposed opening for loading andunloading the tumbling drum, a perforated partition in said tumblingdrum adjacent the end thereof opposite said opening a closure for theopposite end of said tumbling drum spaced from the perforated partitionmember to provide a chamber therebetween and mounted for swingingmovement therewith a series of concentrically disposed heating coils insaid chamber, said closure having an inlet fitting for air associatedtherewith and movable into and out of communication with a source of airunder pressure as the tumbler is swung between loading and dischargingpositrons.

2. An article conditioning apparatus comprising a supporting base frame,axially aligned bearings mounted on said frame, hollow trunnionsturnably mounted in said bearings, a cradle carried by said trunnions, arotatable tumbling drum carried by said cradle and including a heatingcoil, a conduit carried by said cradle for supplying heating fluid tosaid coil, a second conduit carried by said cradle for exhausting saidheating fluid from said coil, said supply conduit passing through one ofsaid trunnions and said discharge conduit passing through the other ofsaid trunnions, and rotatable joints adjacent the outer ends of saidtrunnions adapted to sealingly connect said conduits to supply anddischarge conduits exterior of said apparatus.

3. Apparatus of the type set forth in claim 2 including adjustable meansfor centering said conduits in said trunnions.

4. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a frame, acradle mounted on the frame for rotatable movement about a horizontalaxis, means mounted on the frame for rotating said cradle between aplurality of operative positions, a tumbler carried by the cradle forrotation about an axis substantially at right angles to said horizontalaxis, means carried by the cradle for rotating said tumbler, saidtumbler having an opening therein for loading and unloading same andbeing swingable with said frame between loading and unloading positions,doors swingably mounted on said frame for closing said opening when thetumbler is in its loading position, means carried by said cradle formaintaining said doors in opened positions when the tumbler is movedaway from its load receiving position, a closure for the end of saidtumbler opposite said loading and unloading opening, said closure beingcarried by said cradle, sealing means between said closure and tumbler,an inlet manifold for air carried by said closure member, an outletmanifold for an air supplying means carried by said frame, said inletand outlet manifolds being disposed in sealing engagement when thetumbler is in its load receiving position, said inlet manifold beingmovable away from said outlet manifold when said tumbler swings towardits discharge position.

5. Article conditioning apparatus of the type set forth in claim 4including a perforated wall in said tumbler, a plurality ofconcentrically disposed heating coils disposed between said wall andsaid closure, and a perforated plate positioned between said heatingcoils and closure for directing 'air onto and around said heating coilsfor passage through said perforated wall.

6. Article conditioning apparatus of the type set forth in claim 5including inner and outer concentrically disposed bafile memberspositioned between said perforated wall and said heating coils andspaced apart to provide a substantially annular opening through whichheated air passes to said tumbler.

7. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblingdrum having a tumbling chamber therein, said tumbling drum having anopening at one end thereof for loading and discharging said tumblingdrum, a perforated partition in said tumbling drum adjacent the endthereof opposite said opening and extending substantially to theperiphery of the drum, a fixed closure for the drum spaced from theperforated partition member to provide a chamber therebetween, a seriesof concentrically disposed heating coils disposed in said chamber, theoutermost heating coil extending substantially coextensive with theperforated partition, a fixed perforated plate positioned in saidchamber between said heating coils and said closure, the perforations insaid plate being arranged in a plurality of concentric series disposedopposite said heating coils whereby air passing therethrough isdischarged directly onto said coils, and means for supplying air to saidchamber for passage around said heating coils and through saidperforated partition means into said tumbling chamber, the fixedperforated plate and fixed closure, forming an inlet passage for the airsupplied to said chamber.

8. Article conditioning apparatus for laundries comprising a tumblingdrum having a tumbling chamber therein, said tumbling drum having anopening at one end thereof for loading and discharging said tumblingdrum, a perforated partition in said tumbling drum adjacent the endthereof opposite said opening, a fixed closure for the drum spaced fromthe perforated partition member to provide a chamber therebetween, aseries of concentrically disposed heating coils disposed in saidchamber, baffles positioned in said chamber between said perforatedpartition and said heating coils, said bafile means comprising an innerand outer series of bafiies spaced apart to provide a substantiallyannular opening through which air from said heating coil is dischargedthrough said perforated partition, a fixed perforated plate positionedin said chamber between said heating coils and said closure, theperforations in said plate being arranged in a plurality of concentricseries disposed opposite said heating coils whereby air passingtherethrough is discharged directly onto said coils, and means forsupplying air to said chamber for passage around said heating coils andthrough said perforated partition means into said tumbling chamber.

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